French Country With A Twist: Decorating For Christmas Brings Joy

Each year I look forward to decorating for Christmas. As I pull holiday boxes out of the attic I anticipate opening the carefully labeled plastic bins. Each one brings a memory of the past. I like to play Christmas music as I go through our home placing each item in a special place.

I remember the angels I bought for 75% off at an after Christmas sale. I loved them so much I bought all the ones they had left. This year I decided to place them on our dining room table as a collection. It reminds me when the angels appeared to the shepards to tell them of a newborn king.

Somehow as I unwrap the nativity scene each figure is still intact. I made the scene when I was in my twenties. I got some paint and brushed them an ivory color. Next I rubbed a golden glaze. The manger scene shows the birth of baby Jesus. Saint Francis of Assisi is credited for having the first live manger scene. Handpainted santons tell the story of the first Christmas in Provence, France. Santons are small brightly colored figures for nativity scenes. Santons mean small saints. The creations of Santons is a family craft handed down from parents to children. Faces are painted first, then hair, and their clothing.

Decorating the Christmas tree brings joy to see ornaments I've collected over the years. I like the colors of turqoise and red for a theme.

I had a friend help me make the giant white bow.

Angels on the tree of red and white remind me of a song called Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. Christmas is a time to remember Jesus came into the world to bring peace, love and joy through the gift of His Holy Spirit when you accept Him in your heart. Giving gifts is a tradition at Christmas. I love to see our gifts wrapped under the tree. I play the song Joy to the World to add a festive feeling to our home. It was written in 1719 by Isaac Watts. One of the most popular songs of the 20th century. It's amazing we still sing it today. The words go like this:

Joy to the world The Lord is come:

Let earth receive her King.

Let every heart prepare him room,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven and nature sing, and

heaven and heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! the savior reigns;

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat the Sounding joy

Repeat repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Not thorns infest the gound;

He comes to make his blessing flow.

Far as the curse is found.

Far as the curse is found

Far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of his righteousness,

And wonders of his love,

And wondeers, wonders of his love.

I purchased the beautiful butterfly at the Neiman Marcus Holiday Shop. They are hand painted and very unique.

Love to see ornaments of our travels. New York is always a fun place to see a broadway show. The Alamo tells the story of Texas history.

Shells in an ornament reminds me of walks on the beach in San Diego.

Christmas tree houses light up any room with color and a sparkling glow.

Fresh Christmas wreaths smell fantastic as you enter the doorway.

Wisemen followed the star bright in the sky to find baby Jesus. They saw the star in the east and came to worship him. The star stood over the place the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.